8 month old female rats

Question
QUESTION: Hello Sandra
I have 2 8 month old female rats, i have had them since they were 10 weeks old. The lady that i got them from had breed them in her pet shop and told me they were used to being handled but they were not, they were so scared of everything when i tried to pick them up they would  wriggle so much i was unable to handle them. Once one just jumped off me and onto the floor which was awful took hours to get her back into her cage. They have come one well they will now come out into there play area and are out for hours just playing in there boxes. They will come when you call there names and take a treat they play a running game with me which is they take a treat run it into a box and then come back for more they do this for ages. They will take baby food off a spoon but any movement or strange noises they will run for cover. The problem is i still cannot handle them they are to fast. I have tried everything but nothing is working. I have had nervous rats before and also a bitter but everytime i have manged to bring them round.I am still doing the trust training but have come to a halt as to what to do next.Please any help would be appreciated.   
    Denise

ANSWER: How long do you keep them out when they come out and what is their play area like?

Also, breeding pet store rats makes no sense when people want to have healthy rats because you have no clue what your getting.  

let me know about the stuff I asked you above and we can go from there.

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QUESTION: Hi Sandra
They are out for around 2 hours there play area is a table top which the cage stands on we place boxes and tubes around the cage and on top of the cage so they can come in and out as they please sometimes they just sleep in the boxes. I rechecked your site and decided to change there play area to the bathroom where i can sit on the floor with them in the hope they get used to me. The only problem is i cannot get the cage to the bathroom as its to big what i do is i take there iglo out of there cage with them in it take them to the bathroom place it on the floor. I have done this once one did come out and take a treat from me but went straight back to her bed the other one did not show. Im hoping if i keep doing this they will come onto me and will not be so scared.

look forward to hearing from you and appreciate your help
Denise.

ANSWER: Absolutely. Let yourself be totally accessible to the ratties during playtime. You should be the rats biggest play toy out of them all.  Eventually they will be climbing all over you.  Take some toys in there, and of course the igloo so they can hide in it. It may take some time because they are older and they should have been socialized at no later than 4 weeks old in order to be used to humans, no fault of yours in any way, but the sad truth about pet store rats and some poor quality breeders.  Dont force yourself on them and let them come to you when they are ready. Keep talking to them all the time, saying their names over and over again to each of them. I trained a wild rat that was a terror:biting, terrified of people etc...and she really had an awesome personality that I had to lure out but eventually it worked and she was awesome.

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QUESTION: Hi Sandra
I have been taking Tille and Mille into the bathroom for nearly a week now  just sitting on the floor talking softly to them for an hour every night but nothing you might see a nose poke out the front of there iglo but thats about it. I am worried that are getting no exercise since i have changed there play area. Also they have become scared once they are back in there cage i cannot even talk to them without them running to hide. Do i continue and be patient.

Regards Denise

Answer
I hate to say this but yes, patience is a virtue. Really, it is. These rats were not properly socialized and they are terrified of their surroundings and do not trust anyone or anything. They need to know that they are going to be ok.  Next thing I am going to suggest is perhaps not to take them to the bathroom, but since you cant let them out in another room safely, try making that big wall out of cardboard like I describe on my website, sandyscrittercity.com.  Set it up so that it is big enough to allow their cage and YOU to sit in there with them.  Another act of patience, I know, I feel bad because you may be thinking "Aw this is ridiculous, I dont think this is going to work!"  but it will eventually work.  Rats are curious by nature and they will want to eventually come out and see whats going on.  Once they see the play area is safe and there are things to do such as go into boxes or paper bags etc...they will come out. Have some treats to offer them when they do come out.  It may take days, even a few weeks for them to come out of their cage into the play area and another few more days after that to come to you.  I mean really, what else can you do but keep trying? Its not their fault, its their natural instinct not to trust humans, but its the breeders fault for not teaching them from the start we are their friend not their enemy.